Meet the Staff
Our people make the difference.
Barrier-Free's team of experienced staff, interns, and volunteers are dedicated to providing impeccable service. We take the time to get to know you and your families because we believe that, in business, a personal approach is the best approach. We utilize our staff's individual strengths to ensure each person gets the successful outcome they deserve. We are determined to work hard to earn your loyalty every day. We're here to help you succeed, feel loved, and to have fun. At Barrier-Free, we're not just a service organization, we are family-- and we're always accepting new adoptees!
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Britt Burr, Founder, Creative Director
Britt Burr, baccalaureate of McDaniel College and graduate of Kansas State University, is a Registered Drama Therapist (RDT) with the North American Drama Therapy Association. She specializes in creating and implementing original pieces of theater for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and those on the autism spectrum, as well as teaching multiple workshops and classes geared towards and aided with expressive arts. Britt is also a full-time Academic Counselor for the Student Accessibly and Support Services department at McDaniel College. Utilizing her 10 years of non-profit experience, Britt introduced Barrier-Free to Carroll County with a desire to improve inclusive programming throughout the community. In Britt’s downtime, she can be found attending poetry gatherings with her wife, Lauren, and enjoying DC’s theater scene as well as volunteering for advocacy groups promoting equal rights and social change. Britt can be reached directly via email at BrittBurr@BarrierFreeMD.com |
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Lauren Burr, Executive Director
Lauren Burr is Barrier-Free's operational expert, working in various roles including but not limited to: inclusive programming development, social media management, website design, production and house management and everything in between. Lauren brings 7 years of non-profit experience to the Barrier-Free team and her work has been pivotal to Barrier-Free's recent growth and expansion. Holding a M.Ed from American College of Education and a Certificate in Equity and Excellence from McDaniel College, Lauren's expertise in the education field directly translates to her work at Barrier-Free. She is passionate about advocating for and working alongside individuals with varying abilities to create a more inclusive world for all. In addition to her work at Barrier Free, Lauren is a full-time second grade teacher. In her sparingly found free time she can be found working at Lilly Pulitzer, a Palm Beach based resort wear brand, eating Mexican food at her favorite local spot, and living life in pursuit of joy with her wife Britt, family, and friends. Lauren can be reached directly via email at LaurenBurr@BarrierFreeMD.com |
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Gary Jolbitado, Company A Assistant Director
A 40-year story in the making: Gary began performing musicals and plays while in private school. Gary joined Barrier-Free, when asked at the 11th hour to understudy for an actor. Gary only had 3 hours to learn lines and blocking. and, needless to say, it was a hit! At that point, Gary realized his life was missing something – theatre. But, more precisely, helping these very talented people reach their true potential. Since then, Gary's been hooked into Barrier Free and serves as a teaching artist. In addition to his work in the inclusive theater companies, Gary shares his passion for improv by teaching Barrier Free's annual summer improv class. In 2006, Gary was blessed with a son with autism. He can’t say how much working with Barrier-Free MD has helped him better understand what his son goes through. You can keep Hollywood or New York! Gary would rather preform with these talented super-stars any day! |
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Jen Shillingburg, Company B Assistant Director
Jen Shillingburg has been working with Barrier-Free of Maryland since its inception in Westminster and has been assisting Britt in drama therapy for adults with disabilities for a bit longer than that. She is also a baccalaureate of McDaniel College, with degrees in theatre and psychology. When not working with Barrier-Free, she is a life skills coach for individuals with disabilities as well as an after-school musical theatre teacher to middle school students where she and her co-teacher create original scripts for their end-of-term performances. Jen can be seen in rehearsals, on the stage, and running around backstage during performances moving the scenery, pulling the curtain, aiding actors, and selling raffle tickets during intermission. Barrier-Free is well worth the extra cardio |
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Michael Eaton, Barrier-Free Assistant Teaching Artist & Self-Advocate
Michael (Mike) has been performing in Barrier-Free productions for over five years. He serves as a volunteer for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and has also spoken on several disability panels on what it's like to be a person with autism. He's involved in a number of other disability groups around the Carroll County area including, but not limited to: Calm Acres, Disability Express, and Autism in Motion. He's very excited to have a larger role in Barrier-Free MD and commits himself to every event and show. |
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Grace Thompson, Movement Director
Grace Thompson is in her first year at Barrier Free. She can be described as outgoing and loves spending time with others. Grace has been in many productions over the years. She was Mrs. Martini in It's a Wonderful Life (2014), Erin Schultz in Legally Blonde (2015) and Ophelia/Zombie for I Hate Shakespeare (2017). She has also worked on set design forInto the Woods (2015-2016) and sound and set for Drowsy Chaperone (2018) Grace has been in dance lessons and choreographing independently since 2011. She has also been performing as a singer since she was 4 years old! While a sophomore in high school, she was in a competitive Performing arts magnet program at Broadneck High School. While a senior in high school she competed in the New Jersey Drama Forensics League and became a member of the International Thespian Society. Since high school, she has been enrolled at Carroll Community College and taking part in their dance club there. She is excited to be a part of Barrier-Free this year and can't wait to create together! |
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Laura Stall, Production Assistant
Laura is very excited to be working with Barrier-Free! She has always been passionate about working with people with disabilities, and after volunteering backstage for a few Barrier-Free shows, she decided she wanted to do more. Laura assists with many production elements including backstage management, rehearsal assisting, and actor support. Laura attends many social clubs, and loves spending time with our Barrier-Free-ers! Outside of Barrier-Free, Laura works as a counselor for The Arc of Montgomery County. You can also find her writing a story, as she recently graduated with an MFA in Creative Writing from Goucher College. She is always writing, and very excited to use that to help Barrier-Free grow! |
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Emilyanne Wachter, Blogger
Emily Wachter is the owner and entrepreneur of Photography through Autism. She is a lifelong writer and photographer with a passion for disability rights, social justice, and psychology. She is a college student at Carroll Community College with dreams of being a healthcare social worker. Emily has spoken on a number of disability panels on living with autism and experiences of bullying. She is involved with a number of disability groups in Maryland, including YoungLife Capernaum, Disability Express Group, and Special Olympics. In her free time, she likes spending time with family and friends, coloring, and shopping. |
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George Sherlock, Technical Director
George serves as Barrier-Free's technical director. George can be spotted at McDaniel Theater's sound booth during performances where he expertly manages the sound cues for the shows and provides technical assistance. --------------------------------------------------------------- We wish George a very happy retirement as of July 2020 and many years of relaxation ahead! We are so thankful for his commitment to Barrier-Free's growth and success. George, you will be missed and are leaving behind some enormous shoes to fill! Love, Your Barrier-Free Family |
Meet the Interns
Company A Interns
Evan Darr & Jasmine White
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Company B Interns
Chris Spahn & Evan Darr
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Evan Darr - Company A & B
Evan is a freshman student at McDaniel College, planning to major in Kinesiology. When he's not interning at Barrier-Free he loves to exercise and lift weights in his free time. Evan hopes that each and every person involved in these productions will feel proud and confident about the amazing dedication they have put forth through the process.
Evan is a freshman student at McDaniel College, planning to major in Kinesiology. When he's not interning at Barrier-Free he loves to exercise and lift weights in his free time. Evan hopes that each and every person involved in these productions will feel proud and confident about the amazing dedication they have put forth through the process.
Jasmine White - Company A
Jasmine is a junior and psychology major at McDaniel College. In her downtime, Jasmine enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She looks forward every week to working with such an awesome group of people and is grateful for the opportunity to work with Barrier-Free.
Jasmine is a junior and psychology major at McDaniel College. In her downtime, Jasmine enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She looks forward every week to working with such an awesome group of people and is grateful for the opportunity to work with Barrier-Free.
Chris Spahn - Company B
Chris is a recent alumni of McDaniel College from the Class of 2019, and graduated with a major in Theatre Arts and minor in Cinema. In his free time, Chris loves playing video games and watching movies. Chris is excited to work and perform with the actors in Barrier Free and hopes that he learns a lot from the experience.
Chris is a recent alumni of McDaniel College from the Class of 2019, and graduated with a major in Theatre Arts and minor in Cinema. In his free time, Chris loves playing video games and watching movies. Chris is excited to work and perform with the actors in Barrier Free and hopes that he learns a lot from the experience.
